Hullabaloo
Well-Known Member
Now why didn't I think of that. Do you think my horse will feel deprived if I make him share our dishwasher or should I buy him his own to make up for never having spent money on bit wash or coat gloss?
Am I living in cloud cookoo land??
- Thread starter chickeninabun
- Start date
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
I think you'll find that whoever it was said 'washing bits' so possibly meant shampoo etc...just maybe?!
Sprenger do stuff called diamond paste for their bits I think.
I have been known to use toothpaste as it is mildly abrasive and leaves the bit tasting nice!
Sprenger do stuff called diamond paste for their bits I think.
I have been known to use toothpaste as it is mildly abrasive and leaves the bit tasting nice!
Rachel_M
Well-Known Member
QR-
As others have said, due to age you may want to check whether insuring is worth it or at least, just insure for the minimum basic.
As for the ones who jumped on your back, I have to say I would love to have their bank balances if they never budget for anything. It was not long ago that a thread showed how much people spent on their horse, quite a few are on the same budget, so you are not alone or in cloud cuckoo land either.
All I will finish with is; Good look with the new horse and post lots of pictures.
Huggy.
As others have said, due to age you may want to check whether insuring is worth it or at least, just insure for the minimum basic.
As for the ones who jumped on your back, I have to say I would love to have their bank balances if they never budget for anything. It was not long ago that a thread showed how much people spent on their horse, quite a few are on the same budget, so you are not alone or in cloud cuckoo land either.
All I will finish with is; Good look with the new horse and post lots of pictures.
Huggy.
cazza
Well-Known Member
I am sure you will do fine, just make sure you get at least 3rd party insurance for your horse. Horses can be kept on a budget, I know I have 9!
Reading back through all the comments really does point out where non horse owner people get the idea that owning a horse is an elitest sport and you have to be rich. Well you don't have to be rich you just have to be careful and not wasteful. Baby oil and mr sheen works just as well as mane and tail, yes water from the tap or in the dishwasher, madness buying bitwash. My horses get bathed in whatever shampoo I happen to be using at the time.
Things I don't scrimp on:
Farrier (every 4-5 weeks)
Dentist (once or twice a year)
Vet (boosters etc)
Saddle check - well I have only westerns' so don't need to worry about having them reflocked as they don't have those sort of panels.
Plus side my best friend is a master saddler and is based at my yard
So good luck with the new pony, I am sure it will all go well, and it sounds like you have a nice group of friends that will help and guide you along the way.
Reading back through all the comments really does point out where non horse owner people get the idea that owning a horse is an elitest sport and you have to be rich. Well you don't have to be rich you just have to be careful and not wasteful. Baby oil and mr sheen works just as well as mane and tail, yes water from the tap or in the dishwasher, madness buying bitwash. My horses get bathed in whatever shampoo I happen to be using at the time.
Things I don't scrimp on:
Farrier (every 4-5 weeks)
Dentist (once or twice a year)
Vet (boosters etc)
Saddle check - well I have only westerns' so don't need to worry about having them reflocked as they don't have those sort of panels.
Plus side my best friend is a master saddler and is based at my yard
So good luck with the new pony, I am sure it will all go well, and it sounds like you have a nice group of friends that will help and guide you along the way.
Jo C
Well-Known Member
Oh I definitely think you should buy your horse his own dishwasher and washing machine, I mean fancy making him share with you.
zigzag
Well-Known Member
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I use a running tap to clean my bit ....
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lol skin flint...
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I do use hot water
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I use a running tap to clean my bit ....
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lol skin flint...
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SirenaXVI
Well-Known Member
NFU are good but I don't think they are taking on anymore equine insurance
My oldie(30yo) is insured with Petplan on their 'Veteran At Grass' policy - costs £12 a month, but she is insured for accidental injury only - may be worth giving them a call.
Must admit, when I first read your post, I too thought you were living in cloud cookoo land
Having read the whole thing through though (phew!) I think you have more than adequately budgeted, but I was concerned that you forgot foot trimming which is an essential. As a native he will still require vits/mins, people think that because a horse gets fat on fresh air that they don't need the same vits/mins as a thinner horse - this is absolute rubbish and a fat horse is just as malnourished as an overly thin one - possibly more so. Basic vits and mins are essential for ANY horse, obviously one in hard work needs more and one in light work needs less, but they still need them! Anyone who says they get everything they need from grass is talking out of their bottom I'm afraid, this may have been true at one time but modern pasture management practices have put paid to that and, unless you have your soil analysed you cannot be sure exactly what is in it................rant over (sorry bugbear of mine
)
Having said all of that, your horse would probably just need a basic vit supplement - there are loads to choose from and all cost around £12 a tub which should last at least a month - because of your generous hay/straw budget this should not break the bank
Word of warning - Hay, Straw and Feed are all going up this year due to this wonderfully disasterous summer weather
Must admit, when I first read your post, I too thought you were living in cloud cookoo land
Having said all of that, your horse would probably just need a basic vit supplement - there are loads to choose from and all cost around £12 a tub which should last at least a month - because of your generous hay/straw budget this should not break the bank
Word of warning - Hay, Straw and Feed are all going up this year due to this wonderfully disasterous summer weather
Hullabaloo
Well-Known Member
Just gave him a call on his new mobile to ask him what make he'd like and he told me to spend the money of carrots instead. That's gratitude for you!
Artois
Well-Known Member
Not bit wash - re-read it !!!
washing bits - shampoos/fly spray stuff that that ??
i just think if you are counting the pennies - and buy the looks of it - to the nearest 0.00 off pence you are !!
washing bits - shampoos/fly spray stuff that that ??
i just think if you are counting the pennies - and buy the looks of it - to the nearest 0.00 off pence you are !!
WeeBrown
Well-Known Member
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I have been known to use toothpaste as it is mildly abrasive and leaves the bit tasting nice!
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Thanks, might try that one! My equine dentist recently used some peppermint mouthwash when doing my mare's teeth which she loved. Up til now I have used good old water and dish scrubber - think the thought of bit wash will have me laughing for a while, must tell OH he has to buy me some!
OP good luck with your pony, as a few have said I'd insure for vet bills and 3rd party, especially as pony has cost you nothing and is older.
I have been known to use toothpaste as it is mildly abrasive and leaves the bit tasting nice!
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Thanks, might try that one! My equine dentist recently used some peppermint mouthwash when doing my mare's teeth which she loved. Up til now I have used good old water and dish scrubber - think the thought of bit wash will have me laughing for a while, must tell OH he has to buy me some!
OP good luck with your pony, as a few have said I'd insure for vet bills and 3rd party, especially as pony has cost you nothing and is older.
Jo C
Well-Known Member
Now isn't that just typical of these ungrateful horses!?
SouthWestWhippet
Well-Known Member
I have just worked out my budget for my horse and it comes to £169.89 p/month in summer and £250.14 per month in winter (extra is cost of hay and straw at yard rate). This includes shoes, insurance, hard feed, supplements, yearly teeth and biannual back check but no 'fun extras' like bits of tack, rug cleaning, misc vet stuff etc. Seeing as my livery costs are 4 times yours and my pony is shod and also insured quite highly I would say that your budget is plenty more than adequate.
I would always be tempted to over insure personally cos I've had various lameness problems and stuff go wrong with my horses in the past but with a hardy native pony mostly living out I can't see the problem with what you are suggesting at all.
I would always be tempted to over insure personally cos I've had various lameness problems and stuff go wrong with my horses in the past but with a hardy native pony mostly living out I can't see the problem with what you are suggesting at all.
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
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He comes with tack, I have all my bits and bobs. Groom kit is pennies here and there (pounds I know, but not serious cash). He doesn't have a rug, but he's a Fjord, so hairy, but will get one to have in reserve just in case. All buckets, feed bins, etc, we are sharing with the friend who has the field. And there shouldn't be much travelling so won't be rushing out for travel rugs/boots/etc.
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Cool... sounds like your good to go!! Did you manage out of all this to find a cheaper insurance quote!??
He comes with tack, I have all my bits and bobs. Groom kit is pennies here and there (pounds I know, but not serious cash). He doesn't have a rug, but he's a Fjord, so hairy, but will get one to have in reserve just in case. All buckets, feed bins, etc, we are sharing with the friend who has the field. And there shouldn't be much travelling so won't be rushing out for travel rugs/boots/etc.
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Cool... sounds like your good to go!! Did you manage out of all this to find a cheaper insurance quote!??
chickeninabun
Well-Known Member
I have actually just got an email back from Julie Andrew's Insurance for £149/year, which is £12/month. It includes £2000 vet fees per claim (£100 xs), £300 adverts if lost, death, theft/straying & public liability. Seems rather good. Maybe a bit too good, if you know what I mean!
Hullabaloo
Well-Known Member
"Not bit wash - re-read it !!!
washing bits - shampoos/fly spray stuff that that ??"
Duh - how thick am I. Imagine I had gone into a tack shop and asked for it!
washing bits - shampoos/fly spray stuff that that ??"
Duh - how thick am I. Imagine I had gone into a tack shop and asked for it!
Blizzard
Well-Known Member
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I know but I didn't want slating for being mean and reckless... again!
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i think the problem was in your first post you said an extra £20 a month doubled your budget..... hence people thought you were trying to keep a pony for £40 a month, and no contingency.... now we know its much nearer £200 a month with a contingency all is well with the world
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Exactly - and that you seemed to be saying that an extra £20 a month was unmanageable, when very few months go by when something costing that much doesn't come up!
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Ditto!
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I know but I didn't want slating for being mean and reckless... again!
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i think the problem was in your first post you said an extra £20 a month doubled your budget..... hence people thought you were trying to keep a pony for £40 a month, and no contingency.... now we know its much nearer £200 a month with a contingency all is well with the world
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Exactly - and that you seemed to be saying that an extra £20 a month was unmanageable, when very few months go by when something costing that much doesn't come up!
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Ditto!
WelshRareBit
Well-Known Member
Why is it the moment someone mentions money on this forum everyone goes bloody bananas? lol
I used to keep Murphy on a budget. Hell he didnt have a saddle for the first 2 months I had him. He was only shod infront to minimise costs and was insured on the cheapest policy. He had budget own brand feed and rugs from the sales. He had the cheapest bridle I could find and one numnah.
Now I am finally on my feet he has the best i can afford now, which is a bit better than sale rugs. I dont think there's anything wrong in scrimping on other things so long as the basics are all there and the horse is kept healthy, happy and loved.
I used to keep Murphy on a budget. Hell he didnt have a saddle for the first 2 months I had him. He was only shod infront to minimise costs and was insured on the cheapest policy. He had budget own brand feed and rugs from the sales. He had the cheapest bridle I could find and one numnah.
Now I am finally on my feet he has the best i can afford now, which is a bit better than sale rugs. I dont think there's anything wrong in scrimping on other things so long as the basics are all there and the horse is kept healthy, happy and loved.